Jointed flexible level



y 0, 1951 A. A. HOWELL JOINTED FLEXIBLE LEVEL Filed Dec. 14, 1948 Argus A. H0 well INVENTOR.

I Q BY WW WM Patented July 10, 1951 UNI TED STATES PAT EN'T OFF ICE 2,559,961 JOINTED FLEXIBLE LEVEL Argus A. Howell; Ontario, Calif.

Application December 14, 1948,,Serial No. 65,108

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in levels and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a jointed flexible level for use on angular work as well as straight work.

Another important object of the present, in,- vention is to provide a level including a plurality of pivotally connected links supporting spirit levels and so arranged as to permit the same to be utilized for making markings on curved surfaces, such as cylinders or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jointed flexible level including a plurality of pivotally connected links and embodying novel and improved means for limiting pivotal movement of adjacent links relative to each other when the adjacent links are perpendicular to each other.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a jointed flexible level that is small and compact in structure, simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1, and with parts broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 3 is a view showing the present invention in use with a cylinder having an outwardly projecting nipple; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the present invention in use with a pair of perpendicular surfaces.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It] represents the present jointed, flexible level generally, including a central link or section I2, 5;, pair of end links or sections l4 and I6, and a pair of intermediate links or sections [8 and 20.

The links are elongated and the ends of the links l2, l8 and 20 are beveled or tapered to provide sloping surfaces 22 and 26.

The central link 12 and intermediate links I 8 and 20 are provided with central openings or recesses 21- in which pairs of spirit levels 28 are mounted. The levels carried by the central link I2 are disposed at right angles to the spirit levels carried by the intermediate levels.

Projecting outwardly from one end of the intermediate link 20, is-a tapered lug 38 that is positioned in a notch 32 provided in one end of the central link l2. A transverse pivot pin 34 secures thelugED to the link i2.

A notch 36 is provided in one end of the intermediate link [8, and receives a tapered lug 38 projecting from one end of the central link I2, and a transverse pivot pin 40 secures the link I 8 to the lug 38.

The inner beveled end 42 of the end link I4 is provided with a central notch 44 that receives a tapered lug 46 projecting from the link l8 and a further pivot pin 48 secures the link Hi to the lug 46.

Projecting outwardly from the beveled end 50 of the remaining end link I6, is a further tapered lug 52 that is received in a notch 54 provided in the link 2|]. A still further transverse pivot pin 56 secures the lug 52 to the link 20.

The adjacent links are pivoted relative to each other so that the same can be moved to various angles, it being understood that the bearing surfaces 26 of adjacent links will abut each other when the adjacent links are perpendicular to each other as shown in Figure 4 when the instant level is employed between perpendicular surfaces 58 and Gil.

When the instant level is used in conjunction with cylindrical surfaces 62, such as tanks or the like having projecting nipples 64, the links l8 and 20 are spaced parallel to each other and perpendicular to the central link i2 and the end links I4 and I 6 bear against the outer periphery of the surface 62.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and thescope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A jointed flexible level including a central link and a pair of end links, said central link having an ear at one end and a notch at its other end, one of said end links including an inner end having a notch and the other end link including an inner end having an ear, the notch in said one end link receiving the ear of said central link and the ear of the other end link being positioned in the notch in said central link, a first pivot pin extending through the notched end of one end link and the ear of said central link, a second pivot extending through the notched end of the central link and the ear of the other end link and paralleling the first pivot, each of said linksf having a recess, and a spirit level mounted in each of said recesses, the spirit level mounted in the recess of the central link being disposed at right angles to the spirit levels mounted in the recesses of the end links, said central link having beveled ends each including a pair of converging surfaces I of said end links being disposed sufficiently close to the beveled ends of said central link to permit the converging surfaces of said end links to engage the converging surfaces of said central link as the end links are swung about the pivot pins to limit swinging movement of the end links in an arc relative to the central link.

ARGUS A. HOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,275 Heistod Jan. 4, 1910 958,349 Andersen May 17, 1910 1,015,877 Du Mouchel Jan. 30, 1912 1,114,656 Sterner Oct. 20, 1914 1,143,256 Dewees June 15, 1915 1,308,815 Simon July 15, 1919 ,0 4 Graham Aug. 29, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 89,419 Switzerland 1921 366,311 Great Britain 1932 

